Before Destruction!

by Star Trek

  Highness looked over the many faces that sat before him.

  The Emperor placed both hands on the armrests of his chair,

  gripping them tightly. "Who among you can deliver me a galaxy?" he

  asked calmly in his deep bass voice. The company looked to each

  other in surprise at the question. When no answer was forthcoming,

  he continued. "What is it that stands between us and our rightful

  place among the stars?" he posed. "What powers vex our mighty

  Empire at every turn?"

  Admiral Sorr stood confidently before his master, "Organia, my

  lord," he answered.

  "Incorrect, Admiral," Garth stated flatly, to the astonishment

  of all present. "Organia is merely an excuse we have been deluding

  ourselves with, for far too long. A treaty that has made the

  Empire slumber in the same bed as that of our enemy." He stood and

  let the assembly see the fire in his eyes. "Fear and ignorance,

  are what obstructs our path to glory! Together they are more

  devastating than a thousand Organia's, more deadly than a million

  Federations." He folded his arms across his chest. "And they are

  infinitely more powerful than this new 'Super Weapon', that you

  have, no doubt, placed some hope in."

  He looked narrowly upon the company. "You," he pointed to the

  assembly of men, "have permitted a fold of sheep to dictate the

  boundaries of my Empire and pretended it was because of the power

  they wielded. Power beyond ours, that bound us to this section of

  space. When, infact, it was fear of the extents of their power,

  and ignorance of how to use that power against them, that halted

  you from delivering me the galaxy," he boomed.

  The Emperor placed his fists on his hips. He could see the

  large group was impressed by his words, yet were confused that the

  speech, though characteristically bold, lacked the solution to

  the 'Organian-forged' chains that shackled them. He would soon

  give them the key, but first he would rid himself of the Commander

  who had been given cause to suspect the Emperor.

  "Admiral Sorr has informed you of the weapon that is now mine

  PAGE 74

  to use in reshaping the galaxy, a weapon of such destructive power

  that no other force has ever been conceived since the beginning of

  creation. Yet I tell you this... we have never needed the weapon

  to take Klingon rule across the Neutral Zone!" He continued to keep

  them in expectation of an answer to the Peace Treaty dilemma,

  relishing the power he held over them.

  "And what, I am sure you are wondering, can be done while the

  watchdogs of peace threaten to intervene at any moment of conflict

  between the Federation and our majestic Empire? It is a good

  question, one that has been avoided and side-stepped too many

  times before!" The Emperor paused, changing the tone of his voice

  from 'forceful' to 'mild'. "My subjects... my comrades, the

  solution can be found in the very treaty that binds us. It can be

  clearly seen, not in what is written on the parchment, but what

  remains unwritten." Garth almost began to smile at that, enjoying,

  loving every moment of their prolonged desire to see what they had

  been blind to.

  "Commander Kang!" Garth abruptly changed the direction of his

  speech, to the unexpressed consternation of the men before him.

  "Here," he said, rising from his seat, "lord Tromok." 'Or the

  image of Tromok', he spoke to himself. Kang too was inspired by

  the speech of the man who wore his Emperor's face. He caught

  himself wishing that this man was his lord, leading them to

  victory. But no, this was not him and the prime enemy was not the

  Federation now. That made Kang a traitor to the Realm, for he

  would have to stand against his Emperor, if not now, soon.

  "I presume that you are versed in the specifics of the treaty

  to which I refer?" he asked, knowing all men of command grade had

  it committed to memory, by Imperial Proclamation.

  "I am, as all present are, Emperor Tromok." Kang did not know

  the game being played this time either, only that he was being

  maneuvered into something.

  How many conditions are in effect on the document as

  written?" he asked the Commander as a teacher would test a student.

  "Six conditions exist," Kang stated. He wondered if he would

  have another opportunity to face the imposter alone. He was

  certain that he would not be able to use his ship against the

  Thunder. He was not only outgunned, but his crew would surely

  mutiny.

  "Recite the essence of each condition for us all Commander

  Kang," he commanded.

  Kang grit his teeth, feeling as if he would next have to

  recite their alphabet. "First condition: the treaty imposed, forces

  the Federation and Klingon Empire to cease hostilities or both

  parties will be rendered militarily harmless. Second: a Neutral

  Zone will separate both parties where no aggression will be

  tolerated within zone boundaries. Third: any future aggression

  PAGE 75

  between the two parties will be summarily stopped by the Organians.

  Fourth: no party will deny peaceful access to planetary bases

  within said zone. Fifth: Organia is to be left alone, until a time

  of their choosing, then they will reveal their intentions for both

  parties. Sixth: planets may be peacefully developed within the

  zone. Exclusive rights to any zone planet belong to the party who

  most efficiently develops the planet," he concluded, thankful to be

  finished.

  "Very adequate, 'Captain' Kang, of the Imperial Battle

  Cruiser, Fury. I now release you from my presence so that you may

  formally appraise my council of the events that have transpired,"

  Garth said, looking into Kang's eyes from across the distance.

  "Your promotion is now on record and your ship has been notified of

  your new rank."

  Kang stood silently for a moment, realizing he was not going

  to be present to hear the rest of the imposter's plan for the

  Empire. Then he bowed low to the Emperor, "Thank you, lord

  Tromok," he said, bowing low enough to be partially hidden from the

  Emperor. Quickly he opened a channel to his ship's log recorder

  on his communicator and placed it under the seat in front of him.

  As he completed his slightly extended bow, the Emperor displayed in

  his hand, the rank insignia pin of the captaincy.

  "I almost forgot, Captain Kang, approach me now and receive

  your honors."

  Kang slowly advanced between the rows of chairs, to the aisle.

  His peers and superiors gave him questioning looks. It was a rare

  thing indeed for the Emperor to personally promote anyone in the

  admiralty, and never a Commander. He stepped up to the platform

  where the Emperor and his guard stood awaiting him. Ever so slowly

  he moved his hand towards his disrupter, then halted the motion.

  He reasoned that the Ramjep Avwi would have him dead on the floor

  before he completed his draw. He stopped in front of the Emperor

  and faced him at attention.

  The Emperor took a step towards Kang and now was inches from<
br />
  his face. He reached out and placed the symbol of Kang's new rank

  on him. He then leaned over to the Captain, almost nose to nose

  and whispered, "Give my personal regards to Chamberlain Jekrrez,"

  he said poisonously. Then placed a firm hand on Kang's shoulder,

  turning him around for the assembly. "I present you, 'Captain'

  Kang! Salute!" he ordered. The company rose and saluted as

  required. The firm hand indicated that it was time for Kang to be

  gone.

  Kang, stepped down from the platform and headed up the aisle

  to the exit. His thoughts were of murder.

  "Commander S'takal of the Romulan Fleet... stand!" Garth

  commanded as the heavy door closed behind the new Captain. S'takal

  rose and saluted the Klingon Emperor in Romulan fashion. "You have

  all the data on the new weapon, including projected power curves.

  You may now transmit this information to your superiors. Your

  PAGE 76

  ships will flank our cruisers when we approach the Neutral Zone."

  The Romulan acknowledged his command and he and his company also

  exited the room.

  "Now, it is time," he addressed his troops, "that I shared

  with you the keys to the galaxy!"

  PAGE 77

  *** TWELVE ***

  Kang left the war room behind him and walked the corridors of

  the Throneship alone. 'Alone', he thought to himself, he had never

  been so alone before. He had faced the terror and the glory of the

  void beyond. He had braved the vast expanses of space and seen the

  wonders that they held, but always with his wife and crew beside him.

  Now he would return to his ship, outcast in his heart, alienated from

  his wife and ship because of the knowledge that he now carried with

  him, the knowledge that he dared not share.

  He prepared himself for the dishonor of the 'lie' that he

  would have to tell his crew, for he was not returning to Klinzhai

  as ordered. He was unsure of where he was going, but certain it

  would be on the heels of the 'false' Emperor. There were several

  plans of attack that had crossed his mind, one of which was

  gaining access to the ship labelled 'Fringe Ranger', but even if he

  could get himself aboard the intruder's vessel, he was unsure that

  he would find his deposed Ruler. If he yet lived, he would be hidden

  and well guarded. If dead, he would be dust. Without the body, he

  would have no evidence which would unmask the face of the villain,

  and he was certain that the way to the enemy ship was blocked at

  all avenues.

  Kang rounded the corner of the long hall, and strode towards

  the transporter room. He looked down at the floor in shame for

  what he was about to involve his crew in, when his eye was caught

  by the gleaming symbol of his new commission. He pulled it from

  his chest and held it in his hand, examining it while he walked.

  It was a false commission. Another lie, but one that he would not

  bear. He closed his fist around the small ornament, squeezing it in

  his anger.

  Commander Kang, 'Captain' to all but himself, entered the

  transporter room of the Throneship. He was saluted by the

  transporter officer on duty.

  "What is your destination, Sir?" he asked as Kang stepped up

  to the platform.

  Kang looked at the officer before him. "Do you have any

  children?" he asked him.

  The lieutenant glanced up in surprise of the question. Then

  with the pride of a father said, "Yes, Sir, a strong son."

  Kang stepped from the transporter platform to the controls of

  the machine the lieutenant stood behind. He placed the symbol of

  Captaincy that he held, on the hood of the machine. "Give this to

  your son as a present from me, who has none."

  "Thank you, my lord. It will be my honor," he said, grateful

  to the man, though slightly bewildered.

  PAGE 78

  Kang again stepped up to the platform and faced the operator.

  "To the battle cruiser Fury, Lieutenant," he said mildly, bearing

  the heaviness of his solitude.

  "Yes, sir," responded the officer. The coordinates were laid

  in quickly and efficiently. "Energizing," he said and the

  Commander began to fade from view. Kang never knew that the

  ornament he had just given away contained a small crystal of the

  Garth explosive, rendered safe from impact but not from

  transportation, and was meant to be the death of him.

  * * *

  Kang stepped onto his own bridge that had once felt like home

  to him. The bridge crew rose from their stations and saluted

  proudly, the 'Captain' of the Fury. Kang nodded in recognition of

  their gesture. "Ship's status?" he directed toward his own Mara.

  "Full power is restored, computer and scanning apparatus have

  also been repaired. All is well, my lord," she said.

  Kang wished it were true. "I will be in my quarters, briefly,

  to review our new orders. What is the status of our Romulan-made,

  cloaking device?"

  "It is functioning and can be operational upon your command,"

  she said unquestioningly. Several of the Klingon warships had

  received the cloaking devices some time ago. None had yet used the

  camouflaging device. It was a cultural point that had hindered

  use of the equipment. Klingons believed that when engaging an

  enemy, the enemy must see whom it is that has brought death to their

  door. It was considered cowardice to hide from an enemy. Better to

  do battle in full view, for the glory of the Empire.

  "See that it is tested in simulation before I return to the

  bridge," he ordered. His confidence in his wife was unwavering.

  She would obey his every command even unto death, without doubt.

  His confidence in himself was the sore point. He did not want to

  dishonor her this way, any way. Kang turned and walked off the

  bridge, heading for his private chamber.

  The door to his cabin opened to his voice command, and closed

  and locked itself when he was inside. He sighed heavily as he sat

  behind his desk. He pressed several buttons on the computer

  console before him, issued a command and two passwords, and was

  allowed access to the 'Captain's' log records.

  Kang played the voice log transmission that he sent to his

  recorder, while aboard the Thunder. He sat back and listened.

  "Now, it is time that I shared with you the keys to the

  galaxy!" the voice of the Emperor came over the speaker. "The

  PAGE 79

  treaty, as written, is between two opposing governments, two

  'Galactic Powers', is it not? The solution to our plight is

  not to clash with the enemy, until we first join with our

  enemy!"

  With that announcement, there was no small sound of

  turmoil coming from all in attendance. Kang himself was astonished

  anew with the boldness of this imposter.

  The Emperor obviously gestured that the company be silent

  so that he may continue and clarify his meaning. "We must

  first sue for peace! Officially become part of the United

  Federation of Planets, then do what is completely within the

  rights of all Federation membe
rs. Revolt! There is no

  provision, no condition, forbidding revolution within either

  governing power." With that there was silence. A few moments

  for contemplation of what their Emperor proposed, was allowed.

  Then he spoke again. "I, and I alone, offer you the keys to

  deliver me the galaxy! Now what hinders you? Ignorance has

  now been defeated before your eyes! The only thing blocking

  your path is what has always been in your way!" he paused for

  them to realize this. "Who will stand with me and conquer the

  fear that holds back the might of my Realm? Who will follow

  me as I claim my galaxy?"

  Cheers burst forth from the congregation. A clamor of such

  tumultuous noise that Kang turned the volume switch down, for fear

  of it penetrating the doors of his cabin. He sat back, shocked to

  hear the depth of this imposter's deceit. This man who had single-

  handedly captured the throne of Klinzhai was about to start the

  most dreaded war in the galaxy. He now wondered if it was too late

  to stop it. Kang did know that he was in no position to halt this

  madman alone.

  "Are there any questions that I may address

  concerning our next course of action?" Garth asked.

  "When do we begin, my lord?" spoke Admiral Sorr,

  in admiration of his master. He did not know the Emperor could

  be so inspiring.

  "Very soon. We will move closer to the Neutral Zone and

  make our peaceful intentions known to the shining Federation.

  I will take this ship, alone, to the Federation's seat of

  power and proclaim a new era of peace. We will become,

  temporarily, a part of the Union, which will immediately erase